Competencies Overview

Competencies describe the level of understanding or proficiency of a learner in certain subject-related skills or course. Competency-based education (CBE), also known as Competency-based learning or Skills-based learning, refers to systems of assessment and grading where students demonstrate these competencies. From Moodle 3.1 upwards, it is possible to create and apply frameworks for evaluating students against competencies in Moodle.

Overview on how to set up Competencies?

Competencies may be enabled by an administrator in Site administration > Competencies.
Administrators can then set up competency frameworks and add competencies to them.
Administrators can then create learning plan templates, add competencies to those learning plate templates and assign learning plans to individual selected students or to whole cohorts.
Teachers can add competencies to courses and course activities. Teachers can view a competency breakdown report from the Administration block and rate competencies.
Staff with the relevant capabilities can review student learning plans and view any evidence of prior learning students submit.
Students can view their learning plans, upload evidence of prior learning and request reviews.

Accessing Competencies

To access Competencies use the following pathway

Pathway: Site Administration > Competencies

Competencies settings

When you enter Competencies settings, there are two options that are available to either enable or disable.

Enable Competencies	Competencies allow users to be assessed according to learning plans.
Push course ratings to individual learning plans	Default value for the course setting to update individual learning plans when course competencies are rated. The default setting is ‘Yes’.

Migrate Frameworks

This Migrate Framework option can be used to update a competency framework to a newer version. This tool searches for competencies in courses and activities using the older framework, and updates the links to point to the new framework.

It is not recommended to edit the old set of competencies directly, as this would change all of the competencies that have already been awarded in users' learning plans. Typically you would import the new version of a framework, hide the old framework, then use this tool to migrate new courses to the new framework.

Import competency framework

Existing frameworks may be imported via a csv file. To import an existing framework Moodle requires the csv file be in the following format. If you are unsure how to set up a CSV file, download an existing framework to use as a model.

Parent ID number	Competencies are arranged in a tree. This field indicates which competency is the parent of the current row.
ID number	A string that uniquely identifies this competency in this framework
Short name	A short name for the competency
Description	A longer description for the competency
Description format	A number representing the format of the text in the description. Valid options are: 0 = Moodle format, 1 = HTML, 2 = Plain text, 3 = Wiki format, 4 = Markdown
Scale values	Only required on the framework row. Defines a comma separated list of options used to grade the competencies
Scale configuration	A json encoded object used to define the scale configuration. is a valid default
Related ID numbers	A comma separated list of id numbers belonging to competencies related to the current row
Is framework	Must be 1 for a single row in the framework which defines the name and description of the entire framework
Taxonomy	Defined for the framework row, defines the language string keys used to describe competencies at each level of the framework

Plugins are available for importing in other formats.

Export competency framework

Competency frameworks may be exported in CSV format.

Fields from exported CSV file	Example data from an exported CSV file
"Parent ID number","ID number","Short name",Description,"Description format","Scale values","Scale configuration","Rule type (optional)","Rule outcome (optional)","Rule config (optional)","Cross-referenced competency ID numbers","Exported ID (optional)","Is framework",Taxonomy	Math001,Mathematics,"A Mathematics Framework",1,"Not yet competent,Competent","[{""scaleid"":""2""},{""id"":2,""scaledefault"":1,""proficient"":1}]",,,,,,1,"behaviour,indicator,level,skill"

System Competency framework

Entering the competency framework module, will display a list of competency frameworks. If there a no competency frameworks displayed, select the Add new competency framework button. This will allow you to add a new system competency framework.

Adding a new competency framework provides the administrator to provide information into the following fields.

Name	The name of the competency
Description	A detailed description of the competency that may include the purpose of the competency
ID number	A string that uniquely identifies this competency in this framework
Scale	A selection of either: Default Competence Scale Separate and Connected ways of knowing The separate and connected ways of knowing describes two different ways that we can evaluate and learn about the things we see and hear. Typically Separate involves objective critical thinking with facts whereas Connected are empathy and experiential driven
Configure Scales	Default Competence Scale The default value is what is displayed in the breakdown report (see Manually rating course competencies) for a student progressing through their learning plan when a competency is automatically met upon activity completion. Items in the Proficient list can be selected and displayed when a teacher rates a competency manually. eg Default - Competent Proficient - Competent
	Separate and Connected ways of knowing Proficiency may have several different levels linked to the default which can all be identified as competent in several levels. eg Default - Mostly connected knowing Proficient - Separate and connected and Mostly connected knowing
Visible	Competency frameworks may be hidden if they are being setup or hidden
Taxonomies	Taxonomies have four levels with each level providing a structure to the framework. These include from the drop down menu: Behaviour, Competency, Concept, Domain, Indicator, Level, Outcome, Practice, Proficiency, Skill and Value

Adding sub levels to system competencies

Once a competency has been created and selected, sub competency levels can be added by selecting the Add level button.

Competency Framework	The name provided of the competency framework
Parent	The default parent value is: No parent (top level competency) This may be changed by selecting the pencil icon and searching or selecting the appropriate competency
Name	The name of the competency
Description	A detailed description of the competency that may include the purpose of the competency
ID number	A string that uniquely identifies this competency in this framework
Scale	A selection of either: Inherit from competency framework (default) Default Competence Scale Separate and Connected ways of knowing This option describes two different ways that we can evaluate and learn about the things we see and hear. Typically Separate involves objective critical thinking with facts whereas Connected are empathy and experiential driven
Configure Scales	Not available for Inherit from competency framework (default) Default Competence Scale The default value is what is displayed in the breakdown report (see Manually rating course competencies) for a student progressing through their learning plan when a competency is automatically met upon activity completion. Items in the Proficient list can be selected and displayed when a teacher rates a competency manually.
	Separate and Connected ways of knowing Proficiency may have several different levels linked to the default which can mean a student is competent in several levels. eg Default - Mostly connected knowing Proficient - Separate and connected and Mostly connected knowing

Working with sub level system competencies

Once a sub level competency has been created and selected, skills can be added by selecting the Add skill button that will display the same form as for adding sub level competencies (see Adding sub levels to competencies).

Selecting the Edit option displays a menu providing administrators to perform the following functions.

Edit	This allows administrators to make changes to the competency framework regardless of the level
Relocate	Competencies may be moved to other locations by selecting that location.
Delete	Competencies that are no longer required may be deleted but will require confirmation.
Move Up	Competencies may be moved up the current list
Move Down	Competencies may be moved down the current list
Linked courses	If courses are not linked to a competency, the following will be displayed. Otherwise he following will be displayed showing competencies linked to courses
Add cross referenced competency	Competencies may be cross referenced
Competency rule	Competency rules can be added to any competency in a framework, as long as it has children. If competency rules are unable to be added due to no children, the following will be displayed. If competency rules are able to be added, the following will be displayed where one of the following may be selected None Attach an evidence Mark as complete Recommend the competency All competency rules (except for None) allow for the selection at the When field of either : All children are complete Points required are met

Learning plan templates

Entering the Learning plan templates module, will display a list of learning plans. If there are no learning plans displayed, select the Add new learning plan template button. This will allow you to add a new one.

Adding a new learning plan template provides the administrator to provide information into the following fields.

Name	The name of the learning plan template
Description	A detailed description of the learning plan
Visible	Learning plans may be hidden if they are being setup or hidden by administrators
Due date	The date when the learning plan is to be completed
Category	System

Once a learning plan template has been created, a competency may be added to this learning plan template by selecting Add competencies to learning plan template.

Edit	This allows administrators to make changes to the learning plan selected
Duplicate	Learning plans may be duplicated and renamed.
Create learning plans	Allows the administrator to select individual users to learning plans
Add cohorts to sync	Allows the administrator to select a group of cohorts to learning plans
Delete	Learning plans that are no longer required may be deleted but will require administrator confirmation regarding two options. Delete the learning plans Unlink the learning plans from their template

Selecting Add competencies to learning plan template will display the competency picker.

The competency picker will allow the administrator to select a competency framework and either one or more competencies displayed from the list.

Competencies at the category level

Both Learning plan templates and Competency frameworks may be created at the category level and can use any of the Learning plan templates and Competency frameworks that have been created at the system level discussed earlier (see System Competency framework).

Selecting Learning plan templates allows administrators to either Add a new learning plan template to their category or select an existing learning plan template from the available list.

Selecting an existing learning plan template allows the administrator to select from the Competency picker a Competency framework and Competency from the list.

Selecting Competency frameworks allows administrators to either Add a new Competency frameworks to their category or select an existing Competency framework from the available list.

Selecting an existing Competency framework allows the administrator to either add a new Competency framework or select from the Competency framework list.

Competencies at the course level

Competencies may be added at the course level by selecting the Competencies from the menu.

Selecting Add competencies to course Competency allows administrators to select an existing Competency from the Competency picker.

Adding competencies to courses allows administrators to select these in the course activities that have been setup and upon activity completion students are able to either: